We meet an increasing amount of job seekers who are frustrated with the lack of proper information about how to get into the mining industry. Lets explain this now so that you may be better prepared.
It is unlikely you visited our website because we engaged the thought in your mind to 'get into mining'. Government expositions, media advertising and the mining companies are all responsible for public awareness that there is a boom in the industry.
As a consequence job seekers are already motivated and understandably have the notion that their diligence and effort will fill a vacancy with a, 'I'll save you', attitude. After all there is a mining boom and they are all screaming for workers aren't they?
Lets look at the diary of a typical job seeker, I'm sure you will identify with.
I want to drive a big yellow truck - Diary of a Job Seeker -
Crikey! I have sent my resume to scores of companies and you know what? I have not had one reply" What is going on?
I went to the resume experts for a 'Mine friendly resume', but still no luck so I decided to do a certificate in metalliferous mining. Now this certificate in metalliferous mining will allow me to work at heights and confined spaces, great! Plus I get a forklift ticket.
When the course finished I was issued with a certificate, I strolled from the building, head held high with pride, at last this bit of paper will open the doors to a mining job.
I then spoke to a bloke on the phone who knows a bit about mining and he said that when a person works in production, driving the big trucks, the only confined space is the inside of the cab of the truck and the only heights we encounter is to climb up the ladder from ground level to enter the cab of the vehicle and guess what? You don't need a ticket for that and the forklift ticket might come in handy if I am employed in the workshop or in stores but not in production. It was a good course but it would have been nice if I had the knowledge to know how the course would fit into my targeted job role of driving trucks.
Oh well, the $3,000 I paid for the course is still worth it, isn't it? After all I know more about safety and maybe this course will help if I get a job outside of production. Maybe, I thought to myself, maybe I could be a forklift driver in the city if I get stuck for work. So instead of just trying to be a truck driver, I am going to have a go at anything. I'll update my resume with this certificate and I'll be in the mines in no time.
I sent my resume off again with renewed enthusiasm and got a few auto replies but still nothing concrete. What next? I know! I'll go to WA and do one of those dump truck driving courses for $3,500. At least if I pay to learn to drive a haul truck, I'll get a job because they will give me a ticket and I'll have enough experience to get my foot in the door. ................ Wow! What a course, I learnt so much, and now I can see why I didn't have a chance earlier.
I'll update my resume and for sure I'll get a job in the mines. Once the mining companies know I have completed a 'Haul Truck Driving Course' I'll be in the money.
I sent my resume to numerous mining and recruitment companies but again, no luck. This process has taken 6 months all up and now my police clearance has expired for the purposes of employment because most companies want it to be less that six months old. Now I'll have to wait around for another three weeks or so until it is processed again and it will cost another fifty bucks. I never realised that getting into mining could be so hard. I reckon I'll surf the net and see what jobs are going. Here's one! at last they are advertising for unskilled workers, yippee, its a gold mine. My heart was racing with excitement. The ad stated. 'Unskilled Workers Needed QLD & WA $1650 is the Minimum Weekly Wages. I couldn't wait to call then but then realised they didn't have a phone number! Bummer! but they have courses and they reckon I'll never get a job as an operator if I don't know about the equipment. If I spend more money on these courses, say another few hundred, at least I'll have some more bits of paper which may make my resume look better won't it?
I did a bit of research in Google about this business and found out that there are no jobs, just an Internet marketing guy flogging ebook's and giving people like me false hopes. What now! ..................................................................Sound familiar?
Lets look at this again.
Dump truck manuals will not get you closer to a job in mining
Haul truck driving courses may help but then again they may not (Some attendees of these courses do get work in the industry)
Mine Friendly resumes. You don't need them. They will be friendly enough if you possess any of the skills and attributes the mining companies are looking for.
Certificate in metalliferous mining may or may not help you.
Courses to operate equipment are not a prerequisite.
You need to be able to speak to a human being on a one to one basis who has had industry experience.
You will need to have a strategy to get a job.
You will need to be patient.
Most training organizations are specialists in their field, they are their to teach you new skills and to work safe, not to get a job.
You will need the following:
National police clearance. (Usually valid for six months)
HR Licence (if you are going to operate mobile plant. There are some exceptions)
First aid Certificate (For certain positions)
To seek a long term career path
To display a positive and pleasing attitude
To think safety for your self and co-workers
You need to do everything possible to get your resume noticed by your employer
It is important for you to understand how your experience of life translates into mining so you can maximizes the impact of your resume
Overseas workers are not taking Australian dump truck driving positions.
You need to do your homework before moving interstate.
To understand that its not all about the money. See it as a new and exciting career.
Some reasons why you don't get a reply
Mining companies and their contractors are receiving a huge amount of inquiries from job seekers who want to get into the industry. These inquires are for the most part a direct response to the media and state governments campaigns associated with the mining boom. As a consequence many of the HR Departments of these companies do not have the resources to deal with the problem. Some will re-advertise rather that sift through their database of job seekers.
Many job seekers lost in black holes of information have skill and experience to offer the industry but sadly this often goes unnoticed. This is demeaning for such job seekers who should be treated as an asset to the industry.
Some mining companies show a reticence to train on production equipment because they view this as an impediment to safety and production and this is represented by the bottom line of lost revenue for company concerned.
Other mining companies do train their own and have achieved their production targets in a safe and efficient manner like for example the 'Black Star Open Cut' owned by xStrata Copper or Boddington Gold mine in WA.
Mining companies and the Australian Government associated bodies are aware of this problem. There are initiatives being developed to address these dilemmas. Many mining companies are increasing their use of simulator training both on site and outsourced in an endeavor for a new starter to 'hit the ground running'
In Some instances you would be better off learning to drive an articulated dump truck on a civil construction project in the city than spend thousands on courses because at least you are getting experience on the those trucks, which are used by many contractors undertaking civil construction on mine sites around the country
Our website and its staff exist to assist by providing up-to-date, accurate information and guidance to job seekers. We welcome your calls and emails and we provide an initial review of your resume at no cost.
If all job seekers attended our 'Mining Employment Seminar' or 'Seminar on DVD Ver2' before they spend money on tickets and courses, they would have a much clearer picture about the industry and how they may fit into it.
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